Sell the airport!
Should Greater Manchester's councils sell off the airport to pay for Metrolink and better public transport?
John Whittaker, the boss of Peel Holdings, says they should. The tax exile, who happens to own Liverpool Airport as well as the Trafford Centre, has graciously shared his musings with us in advance of the bid for government cash for public transport, based on the introduction of a congestion charge.
His PR officer puts it this way: "As you know, John Whittaker owner of Peel Holdings has always been a very private person and stayed clear of public debate on a personal level in spite of his power across the country. He has decided that his silence must be broken to fight against the congestion charge proposals."
Manchester City Council currently owns 55 per cent of the airport. Greater Manchester's other nine councils have 5 per cent each.
As a Manchester resident, I wonder to what extent my council tax is reduced by the cash the council gets from the airport.
Paul Barber is doing the story.
David Henry's been off to Liverpool to cover a court story about a man who strangled his pregnant girlfriend to death.
And Suzanne Beeley's got back, very wet, after finding out about bikes that a furniture store has given to its staff in a green initiative.